MEET OUR SCIENTISTS
MAY M CHEUNG, PH.D.
Principal Investigator
Dr. May Cheung is an assistant professor at Brooklyn College in the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences. She received her Ph.D. from Drexel University in Nutrition Sciences. Upon receiving her degree in Nutrition Sciences, she joined the Monell Chemical Senses Center as an NIH T32 Research Fellow to study Sensory Nutrition, which is the study of how taste and smell interact with diet and nutritional health. She also has a Sensory and Consumer Science professional certificate from the University of California, Davis.
She is the mom of many plants and her dog Kiwi. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and playing petanque.​
Check out her research and scholarly work here.
Janel Clovis, B.S.
Laboratory Coordinator
Janel is a non-traditional student at Brooklyn college. She received her B.S. in Health Science from Stony Brook University. She is exploring secondary degree programs in a clinical healthcare setting. She is interested in healthcare disparities in minority populations.
In her spare time, Janel enjoys spending time with loved ones, traveling, and exploring new adventures.
Julia Goler
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Julia is an undergraduate research assistant majoring in Health and Nutrition Sciences with a concentration in Food and Nutrition. She is passionate about food science, nutrition, and taste and scent chemistry. She is specifically interested in the synthesis and application of food ingredients and fragrance molecules, as well as the science and psychology behind taste and scent associations.
In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, cooking, and collecting CDs and vinyl
Tammy Zhao
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Tammy is an undergraduate student at the Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College. She is currently majoring in Health and Nutrition Sciences with a concentration in public health. Tammy is interested in learning more about how biological and cultural factors may impact how much one likes sweet taste.
In her free time, she enjoys cafe hopping, reading, and exploring all areas of New York City.
Shoon Lei Maynine, B.S
Post - Graduate Research Assistant
Shoon is a Post-Baccalaureate Student at Brooklyn College. She received her B.S. in Biology and Anthropology. She is curious about the relationship of cultural influences, genetic geography, and historical changes that have shaped culinary preferences and dietary habits across different populations.
Outside of her studies, she finds joy in playing the guitar, cooking, embroidery, exploring the city on foot, or watching documentaries.
FORMER
MEMBERS
Caren Ghali, B.S
Research Assistant
Caren is a graduate of the Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College. There, she received her B.S. in Health and Nutrition Sciences and Classics with a minor in biology. She is interested in learning more about the intricate connection between one’s culture and diet and how diet consequently influences one’s lifestyle. Caren is currently pursing her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies.
​
In her free time, she enjoys reading about ancient cultures, baking, and collecting vintage cassette tapes.
Annabelle Fu
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
Annabelle is an undergraduate pre-med student majoring in Health and Nutrition Science at Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College. She is interested in studying the environmental and cultural factors influencing sweet taste liking and perception.
In her free time, she enjoys trying new foods, playing the piano, and spending time with family.
Chana Lipschutz, B.S.
Former Undergraduate Student Intern
Chana (Hana) received her BS in Health Science at Brooklyn College. Her insatiable sweet tooth has fueled her interest in sensory nutrition research. Chana is eager to explore how the intersection between our senses and dietary habits affects both individual and population health. Chana’s favorite book and/or podcast genre is historical non fiction and she appreciates a whiff of anything vanilla scented.
Liz Cortes, B.S.
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
Liz received her B.S. in biology at Brooklyn College. She was a part of the NIH-funded MARC (T34) program. She contributed to research on preference and liking at the Sensory Nutrition Lab. Her academic focus in nutrition centered on unraveling the complex interplay between human genetics, sensory systems, and food preferences. Additionally, Liz developed her research skill set by learning to utilize R Studio for statistical data analysis. She is currently exploring graduate school options.
Outside the academic realm, she enjoys cycling and is an avid salsa dancer.
Faye Guarneri, M.S.
Former Graduate Research Assistant
Faye Guarneri received their BS in Health and Nutrition Sciences and MS in Nutrition at Brooklyn College. They completed their Master’s thesis on sweet preference and snack choice in the Sensory Nutrition Lab in 2024. Faye is currently working on getting their Registered Dietician (RD) certification.
They are passionate about food and how it influences health with a special interest in research on using diet to aid with the treatment of autoimmune diseases. They love discovering new places and trying all manner of foods. Besides their passion for all things food-related, they enjoy video gaming, cosplay, and writing in their spare time.
Lauren Zami, B.S.
Former Laboratory Coordinator
Lauren Zami is a graduate of the Macaulay Honors College at Brooklyn College. There, she received her BS in Health and Nutrition Sciences. She is currently pursuing her MS in Nutrition at Brooklyn College and is on the path to becoming a Registered Dietitian. Lauren is passionate about how our food choices affect our health and loves to learn new things. When she's not busy studying, Lauren enjoys baking, playing piano, and crocheting.
Melanie Safi, B.S.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Melanie completed her senior thesis on Social Media, Eating Behavior, and Food Choice in the Sensory Nutrition Lab in 2023.
